Inside the St. Andrew鈥檚 United Church on Smith Street, two large pianos will face each other. Matt Herskowitz will be sit behind one while John Roney sits behind the other. It鈥檚 being advertised as a duel, but Herskowitz doesn鈥檛 see it that way.
鈥淒uel gives the wrong impression,鈥� he said. 鈥淣obody鈥檚 trying to win.
鈥淲e鈥檙e making music.鈥�
鈥淭here is an element of one-upsmanship,鈥� Roney admitted.
The pianists will indeed be creating a musical experience, but not a typical one. They鈥檒l be fusing classical pieces from Bach, Brahms, and others, with jazz. The performers work in tandem to build electrifying reinterpretations of well-known standards.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun show,鈥� Herskowitz said.
Roney and Herskowitz are part of Piano Cameleons, a musical project they created over three years ago after a suggestion from their mutual friend Oliver Esmonde-White. He brought them together with the notion of fusing classic arrangements with jazz. It took years to develop the idea to the stage, but now they鈥檙e ready, touring all over Quebec, Ontario, and New York City.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a competition,鈥� Herskowitz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a celebration.鈥�
The Cameleons are coming to Yorkton on Friday, Oct. 13 as part of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers Association Convention.
鈥淲e were looking for a wonderful piano team,鈥� said Laurel Teichroeb, a director with the association.
The convention will run for two days. It will feature musical performances and workshops.
Greg Chase, a private music teacher, will be teaching three workshops over the weekend. He wants music teachers to reevaluate how they instruct the next generation of students.
鈥淟et them be active learners,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey want to be involved in their learning.
鈥淭here鈥檚 more to teaching than putting an iPad in their hands.鈥�
Chase is excited to attend the other workshops and to see the Piano Cameleons show.
鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檒l be an accessible show.鈥�
The association reached out to the Yorkton Arts Council to help them find performers. The council got in touch with the Cameleons. They鈥檙e also performing in Saskatoon.聽
鈥淚t鈥檒l be our first venture out west,鈥� Roney said.
Playing classic pieces with a jazz twist is no easy task. Herskowitz said it鈥檚 easy to overanalyze the details. It鈥檚 all about staying loose and improvising.
鈥淲e have to respond to each other really quickly,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he jazz parts really have to swing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 super rewarding.鈥�
Roney hopes the music connects with attendees.
鈥淧eople like what we do,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou can feel that energy onstage.
鈥淚t鈥檚 music for everybody.鈥�
Ticket prices for Piano Cameleons are $20 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased online at www.ticketpro.com.
